Re: Saddle Width Vs. Sit Bones Width?

[R Brickston]

On Sun, 06 Aug 2006 21:48:00 -0400, Steve Sr. >
wrote:

>Maybe a better way to phrase this question is if your sit bones are
>"X" wide how wide should a proper saddle be? Where should your sit
>bones hit the saddle? In the center , inside or outside of the saddle
>pads?
>
>Also does anyone know how 95mm sit bone spaceing compares to the rest
>of the male adult cycling population? I guess another way to put it is
>am I a statistical anomaly in this regard?
>
>
>Thanks,
>
>Steve

To pick the correct size saddle, Specialized has a pad they provide to
the LBS that you sit on and then measure your sit bone spacing off the
impressions.

[Collin O'Neill]

R Brickston wrote:
<snip>
>
> To pick the correct size saddle, Specialized has a pad they provide to
> the LBS that you sit on and then measure your sit bone spacing off the
> impressions.

I can vouch for the Specialized saddles. Their system makes selection
EASY. Sit on the foam, and the built-in scale tells you how wide your
Specialized saddle should be. (The width of the saddle is not the width
of your sitbones)

You can apply the same technique, though, if you take some foam (a
garden pad, for example), sit on it, and measure the center of the
depressions caused by your sit bones. Then go to any store and measure
what they've got on the shelf.

As mentioned by Tom, some saddles don't have high points. Rounded
saddles wedge your sit bones apart if you are slightly wide. Specialized
saddles are flat and seem to solve this problem.

Can anyone recommend other flat saddles?

[Collin O'Neill]

Steve Sr. wrote:
> On Mon, 07 Aug 2006 10:23:46 -0500, Collin O'Neill >
> wrote:
>
>> R Brickston wrote:
>> <snip>
>>> To pick the correct size saddle, Specialized has a pad they provide to
>>> the LBS that you sit on and then measure your sit bone spacing off the
>>> impressions.
>> I can vouch for the Specialized saddles. Their system makes selection
>> EASY. Sit on the foam, and the built-in scale tells you how wide your
>> Specialized saddle should be. (The width of the saddle is not the width
>> of your sitbones)
>
> I have used their measuring device and reconfirmed the result with a
> measuring tape which is where my 95mm number comes from.
Well, yes, I know what you mean. But the sizes they sell are 130, 143
and 155mm. It's not the distance between the points of your sit bones.
it's the overall width of the saddle. I don't know if a 130mm saddle
is right for your sit bones, but since you've sat on the pad you know
yourself.
>
>
>> You can apply the same technique, though, if you take some foam (a
>> garden pad, for example), sit on it, and measure the center of the
>> depressions caused by your sit bones. Then go to any store and measure
>> what they've got on the shelf.
>
> Be careful when you do this. Some saddles will change width
> significantly when the rails are clamped in the seat post. The SLK I
> just tried was a good example of this.
Never thought of that. But how much did it change? And, only split-tail
saddles would be able to change significantly, right? I should check out
my split-tail saddles.
>
>
>> As mentioned by Tom, some saddles don't have high points. Rounded
>> saddles wedge your sit bones apart if you are slightly wide. Specialized
>> saddles are flat and seem to solve this problem.
>
> I have looked at some of these. Specifically the Alias and the Toupe.
> Unfortunately, the only local dealer doesn't follow the 30 day return
> policy that Specialized has on their web site. They only allow twice
> around the parking lot trials which I deem to be insufficient for the
> distance riding I do. I also wonder about the effect of all of the
> stitching on the top side of the saddle providing an uneven surface
> leading to rubbing and chafing.
I've thought this would be a problem but it hasn't, at least up to 60
miles.
>
> I have tried a quite a few saddles that don't feel to bad after 25-30
> miles. The real test comes at the 62 and 100 mile marks.
>
>
> Steve
>
>> Can anyone recommend other flat saddles?
>